13 Reasons to Live in Rockford, Illinois

You can see some beautiful parks and gardens! Rockford is the ideal place to live if your love the great outdoors. You can spend time in a range of parks and gardens across the area. Anderson Japanese Gardens, designed by Hoichi Kurisu, was named the finest Japanese garden in North America. The 150-acre Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden is also well worth a visit.

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It's home to some history! Those wanting to take a stroll back in time find that Rockford has great history. Rockford enjoyed some thriving times with the presence of the Coronado Theatre, now a national landmark. It is home to one of the last two Grand Barton Theater Organs.

Housing prices are affordable! The average home in Rockford sells for around $80,000, but can go for much cheaper. Property in the East Jefferson and North Central areas is particularly reasonably priced, often selling for around the $40,000 mark.

You can dine out in style! You'll be thrilled by the choice of cuisine in the city. Lino's is one of the best spots in town to get a pizza. Shogun Japanese Restaurant may be a bit pricey, but the food's excellent so it's the ideal place to go for a treat.

There is a large number of properties on the market! A large number of houses on the market means that it's the perfect time to buy or rent to own. The Spring Creek and East Rockford areas have a particularly plentiful amount of homes for sale.

Visit some interesting museums! You won't be let down by Rockford's museums. The Burpee Museum of Natural History is fascinating for all, but the more "sophisticated types" may prefer the interactive Discovery Center Museum.

Homes to suit a range of budgets! You'll find all sorts of houses for sale, no matter what your price range. Whether you're interested in rent to own homes or buying outright, you're likely to find larger and more expensive, spacious properties in the North Rock area, whereas Mulberry Forest has more affordable homes for those with a lower budget.

It's a haven for sports! Those who like watching sports have plenty of choices in Rockford. Check out the ever-popular Aviators or Foresters if you're a baseball fan, or go see the IceHogs if hockey's your thing. For a more unconventional sport, you could go see the Rockford Rage roller derby team.

Lots of rental properties! If you're looking for rent to own houses in Rockford or if you'd like to buy a house to rent out, you may be pleased to know that the percentage of rental homes in the city is well above the national average. The St. Paul's Place and Camp Grant neighborhoods are both fairly cheap for renters.

There's some interesting nightlife! For something to do in the evening, head to the Adriatic Live Music Bar to see the best local bands play, or head to the Office Niteclub for DJs and late-night drinking.

Shop till you drop! The downtown area is great for shopping at local independent stores. There are also several shopping malls to choose from, including the CherryVale Mall and the East State Antique Mall.

Sale prices are higher than listing prices! While listing prices are dropping, the average property is selling for more money than it's listed for, which is promising if you're thinking of reselling. Neighborhoods such as Champion Hills and the downtown area are up and coming places to buy in to.

Fun for all! Rockford is a wonderful community town, with plenty to occupy yourself with. Don Carter Lanes is a popular spot for bowling, but you can really have some fun with a trip to CoCo Key Water Resort.